Remarks of Commissioner Clyburn at NAB Capital Assets Conference

Now I am as tired of highlighting this factoid as you must be of hearing it: racial and/or ethnic minorities only hold a majority of the voting interests in approximately six percent of fullpower commercial TV licenses and just over eight percent of commercial radio licenses. My office released a draft proposal in December, and in this #Solutions2020 Call to Action Plan, we outline several steps designed to enhance digital inclusion and promote a more diverse media landscape.

It starts, from where I sit, with the reinstatement of the Federal Communications Commission’s Minority Tax Certificate Program. Second, working with the broadcast industry, the Commission should establish a pilot incubator program, designed expressly to increase women and minority ownership. Third, through our Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Independent Programming adopted last September, we have an opportunity to enhance the voices of independent and diverse programmers outside of the broadcast space. Fourth, and while it was not introduced in our draft plan, I continue to believe if done right, ATSC 3.0 could help to fulfill our goal of greater viewpoint diversity. Fifth, even when capital is available, securing a license for a full-power television or radio station in a major market, may not be within reach. Sixth, it is important that we focus not just on station ownership, but on the importance of diversity in front of and behind the camera.